Assessment of Assessments Victor Cotruta Executive Director REC Moldova Meeting of the WGEMA Geneva,...

Assessment of Assessments

Victor Cotruta

Executive Director REC Moldova

Meeting of the WGEMA

Geneva, 07.11.13

1. Analysed themes and structure of the report

2. Institutions involved in the assessments production

3. Data sources

4. Thematic issues & recommendations

5. General recommendations

6. Conclusions

Structure

Biodiversity Climate Change Air Pollution Waste

Analyzed Domains

7 merged assessments 4 Biodiversity assessments 6 Climate Change assessments 5 Air Pollution assessments 3 Waste assessments

Analyzed Domains

Chapter 1 is a general chapter, describing the overall setting for the assessment of assessments, including the landscape of environmental assessments and their context.

Chapter 2 focuses on biodiversity

Chapter 3 focuses on climate change

Chapter 4 focuses on air pollution

Chapter 5 focuses on waste

Chapter 6 is a set of recommendations

Structure of the report

Ministry of Environment (MoE)State Ecological Inspection (SEI)Environmental Information CentreState Hydro Meteorological Service (SHS)Environmental Quality Monitoring

DepartmentInstitute of Ecology and GeographyAgency ‘’Apele Moldovei’’

National Institutions

Biodiversity Office (http://bsapm.moldnet.md); POPs Office (http://www.moldovapops.md); Ozone Office (http://www.ozon.md); Biosecurity Office (http://www.biosafety.md); Climate Change Office (http://www.clima.md); Carbon Finance Office (http://www.cfu.md); Pollution Prevention Office (http://www.eppo.md).

National Institutions – thematic offices

The European Union (EU); United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); The European Environment Agency (EEA); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP); Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA); German International Development Agency (GIZ); Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO)

Projects funded by international donors

International Organizations

The national assessments produced by the State institutions are usually the result of a regular process. The frequency of reports varies: e.g. the Environmental Protection Report published by the SEI is produced annually; the SoER is published by the MoE with support from the Institute of Ecology and Geography every four years.

Type of reports

The reports are made available as freely downloadable pdf files, and are also accessible to the general public as HTML pages. Hardcopy versions, in recent years, are produced in smaller editions – for example the SoER (2007-2010) is available as pdf and as a hardcopy in limited numbers.

Availability

Sources of Data

Issues Limited number of reports dedicated to biodiversity issues; Well developed legislation to conserve nature and stop degradation,

which is not enforced.

Recommendations Good Agriculture Practices should be promoted; The National Ecological Network should be implemented in the forest

sector; The use of donor funds and coordination between different projects

should be improved by MoE.

Thematic Issues: Biodiversity

Issues Limited number of climate change related reports; Little information about observed effects of climatic changes on forests,

and insufficient data; Assessments rich in statistical data, but of limited use in relation to

policymaking and decision taking;

Recommendations An enhanced process should support integrated assessments; Role of International Organizations should be increased in providing

guidance for the development and implementation of climate change scenarios;

Awareness should be raised and information should be provided to the direct target groups: consumers, farmers, businesses and great industries.

Thematic Issues: Climate Change

Issues Monitoring network for air quality considered insufficient by SHS and

MoH; Four laboratories, but only one accredited to ISO requirements; Limited data available, as only limited number of parameters monitored

in priority areas; No inter-sectorial cooperation for combating air pollution.

Recommendations A comprehensive, integrated network for air monitoring should be

developed; Legal frameworks should be improved; Paper databases should be turned into electronic ones; Technical equipment should be provided and installed.

Thematic Issues: Air Pollution

Issues No waste monitoring network existent; Old standards utilized with regards to collection and processing of

information related to the types and amounts of waste; Legal framework for waste management underdeveloped; Financing for waste management, both at state and private level,

insufficient.

Recommendations New standards and reporting forms should be developed; The current statistical system of waste management, which only

partially reflects the situation of waste management by households, should be improved.

Thematic Issues: Waste

A clear scheme for cooperation and coordination of data collection and management between relevant state institutions should be developed;

Approximation of a national legal framework to EU acquis communautaire should be ensured (especially for air protection and waste management);

Integrated environmental authorizations/permits should be introduced;

Electronic databases based on a common platform principle should be established;

Modern technologies such as Geographical Information Systems, ARC VIEW, etc. should be applied;

An E-Governance Centre should be integrated.

General Recommendations

Major drawbacks of the analyzed assessments arise from Lack of data; Old, soviet-style standards; Inefficient use of donor funds and Lack of coordination between relevant stakeholders.

Priority action steps: Cooperation between state actors and the international organizations

involved in funding, monitoring and guiding national stakeholders should be increased;

Methodologies for setting-up statistical and environmental indicators and procedures for relevant data collection, sharing, processing and storing should be developed and improved;

A Shared Environmental Information System should be developed.

Conclusions

Thank you!

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